Mail-box signal



Aug. 31,1926. 1,598,096

I J. B. MASERANG MAIL BOX SIGNAL Filed Sept. 18, 1925 Patented Aug. 31,

- i til JOHN B. B'IASERANG, OF BELLEVEILLE, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-BOX Application filed September This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail bones, and particularly to signals therefor.

One object of the invention is to provide a mail box signal which is simple in construction, easy to operate, and which is adapted to indicate to both the owner of the box, and to the mailman, whether or not mail is within the box.

Another object is to provide a signal which is adapted for operation by the mailman, to indicate to the owner of the box, when mail is within the box, and a secondary signal for operation by the owner to indicate to the mailman of the presence of mail in the box.

Another object is to provide signals for a mail box constructed and arranged in such manner that they function separately.

A further object is to provide signals for a mail box wherein the secondary, or mailmans signal, is mounted for movement independently of the primar signal, and the mounting of the former is so arranged as to permit such signal eing positively, but releasabl held in either signaling or nonsignaling posit-ion;

Other objects and advantages will be ap-v parent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. 1

In the drawing Figure 1 is an end view of a mail box showing the main or primary signal in signaling position, and the secondary, r mailinans signal in nonsignaling position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one end of a mail. box showing the primary signal low-. cred and the secondary signal in elevated signaling position.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view showing the secondary signal and its mounting.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents a portion of a conventional rural mail box, having the arched top 11. Secured transversely on the arched top is a bracket 12 in which is supported the rock shaft 13, said shaft having one end 13 extended at an angle to lie at the side of the mail box, at times, and be retained by the notched springkeeper lt, carried by the side of the box. Secured to the shaft, by the clip 15, is the signal blade or plate 16, such plate being arranged to stand vertically above the box, at times, when the end 13 is engaged with the keeper, as a signal to the owner of the box that mail has been deposited there- SIGNAL.

1%, 1925. Serial No. 57,211.

in, and to lie flatly on the top of the box, at

times, when there is no mail in the box.

Secured to one end of the front face of the said blade 16 is a plate 17, the intermediate portion of which is offset into tubular form to receive the rock shaft 18 therein, said shaft extending obliquely across the intermediate portion of said end of the plate or blade, and having its ends directed at right angles to the shaft, as shown at 19 and 20', respectively, the former being of greater length than the latter and carrying a signal flag or plate 21, while the other end is arranged to limit the sliding movement of the shaft, in one direction, through said tubular portion of the plate 17. A notch 22, and an inclined edge face 28, are formed at the end of the tubular portion for engagement .by the angularly extended end 19, the notch being adapted to hold the shaft so that the flag 21 will notbe blown into signaling position by the wind, While the inclined edge face serves to insure that the signal'arm l9, will gravitate intothe notch, and set the flag into nonsignaling position, when the blade 16 is elevated into signaling position. One side portion of the other end of the plate 17 is cut away so that the arm or end 20 may easily slide beneath the adjacent edge of the tubular portion. In normal inoperative position this end 20 lies beyond the end of the tubular portion to prevent accidental sliding movement of the shaft, but upon rocking the shaft in one direction this end 20 will contact with the face of the blade 16, thus permitting longitudinal movement of the shaft through the tubular portion, and the passage of said end beneath the edge of the tubular portion. This moves the arm 19 into a position at right angles to the face of the plate 16, so thatwhen said plate lies hor izontally on the top of the mail box, the flag 21 will stand vertically to be seen as the mailman approaches from either side of the box. It will be noted that the arm 20 bears against a lip 1'? on the tubular portion of the plate 17, whereby to hold the signal flag 21 in vertical signaling position.

When the owner places mail in the box for collection, he lowers the'bladei 16, and

raises the flag 21, so that the mailman may know that mail is to be collected. Should the mailman place mail in the box, he raises the blade 16 to a vertical position, by grasping the end 13, and moving said end into engagement with the keeper lei. This movemoving the first signal.

ment of the plate 16, into vertical-position, causesvthe shaft 18 to gravitate through the tubular portion of the plate 17 while the arm 19 rides on the inclined edge face 23 into the notch, thus automatically setting. the signal flag 21 into inoperative position.

This action is advantageous, especially when the operator has but one handavailable for operating the signal.

It will be particularly noted that the plate 17 is arranged obliquely acrossthe plate 16, such arrangement serving to insure the t gravitation of the signal 21 into inoperative position whenever the main signal. platev 16 is raised. Furthermore, the signal 21 will only stand in signaling position when the blade or plate 16 is in lowered position, thus obviating the confusion of the display of the two signals at the same time.

Attention is particularly directed to the factthat the lip 17 'projects outwardly, and also in the direction of the plate 16, to a sufficient degree to properly engage with the outturned end 20 of the shaft 18, whereby to hold the shaft against rocking movement when the small flag. 21is in signaling position. w .t 7

hat is claimed is :L

1.. A signaling deviceincluding a signal movable into and out of signaling position,

i a second signal mounted on thefirst signal and movabletherewith, said second signal being independently movable. into signaling position when the first signal 1s 1n nonsignaling position and automatically into nontaining the latter in signaling position, at

times, and in nonsignaling position, at other times.

3. A signaling device including a signal movable into vertical signaling position and into horizontal non-signaling position, a second signal mounted on the first signal and manually movable slidably and pivotally with respect to the latter to stand vertically thereto'when the former is in non-signaling position, means for moving the first signal into and out of signaling position, means on the first signal engaged by the second signal whereby to cause the latter to gravitate against the former, means on the first signal cooperating with the second signal upon slidable movement of the'latter in one direction Zontal to vertical position, a bracket mount- 7 ed obliquely on one face of the blade, a shaft slidable and rotatable in said bracket, radial arms on the ends of the shaft spaced angularly from, each other, a blade on one of the arms, saidshaft being arranged to be moved through the bracket and. rocked to dispose the blade carrying arm in a vertical position while the other arm engages the bracket to maintain the shaft in such position, and a bevel face on an end of the bracket for engagement by the blade arm whereby to-cause the shaft to rotate and slide and dispose the blade against the first signal upon movement of the latter into vertical position.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JOHN B. MASERANG. 

